October 13-17 is National School Lunch Week! School lunch provides a daily nutritious meal for school-age children, which includes healthy foods from each MyPlate food group: whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein. Schools participating in the National School Lunch week celebration may have special menu items, colorful signs posted in the cafeteria, and even lunchroom staff dressed in costumes! Many students are eligible to receive free or reduced school breakfast, lunch, and some schools offer a late-afternoon supper meal. Contact your child's school to ask about the free and reduced school meal program.
Schools may feature locally grown and harvested fruit and vegetables like apples, cauliflower, broccoli, and squash on the school lunch menu this week. It is a great opportunity to taste fresh produce at its very best!
Ask your child to read the school menu with you. Circle healthy foods on the menu that your child already likes. Then circle some new healthy foods to try! Children need to try new foods many times, prepared in different ways, to decide whether they really like these foods. Encourage children to try these healthy foods by being a role model yourself. Eat these foods together with children to show how much you enjoy eating them. They are more likely to try these foods when they see you eating them too!
Get in the game with school lunch and enjoy healthy and nutritious foods this week, and every week!
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